The Mart Theatre panto spectacular that's set to fill us all with festive cheer! (oh yes it will...)

December is almost upon us and we are full of festive cheer after a little robin told us that The Mart Theatre is treating Skipton's Young Carers Group to a trip to this year's panto spectacular Peter Pan
 
We didn't think we could love the vibrant Mart Theatre, based at Skipton's auction mart, any more than we do already but the news they're generously putting BIG smiles on  the little faces of children who care for family members in very challenging circumstances, is the icing on the Christmas cake.
 
We'll be blogging about Skipton Young Carers soon to give you more information about their amazing work but we can't wait any longer to share the low down on the fantastic Peter Pan panto! The same company that produced last year's amazing show to rave reviews from MooBaaKids (and further afield!) is back with a bang!
 
You'll no doubt all know that the swashbuckling adventure of  Peter Pan is about a mischievous boy, who never grows up. He and his Fairy Tinkerbell, visit an Edwardian London house and meet the children of Mr and Mrs Darling – Wendy, John and Michael. The story continues as they follow Peter to the Lost Boys hideout on the small island of Neverland meeting Mermaids, Indians, a Crocodile and Pirates…oh and a rather nasty Captain Hook who despises Peter Pan and by hook or by crook wants to rid the world of his arch enemy. It's traditonal panto fare with vivid characters, slapstick fun and adventure with bags of audience participation. Prepare to forget you've grown up yourself and laugh along with your kids!

Directed by George Critchley with a full professional cast supported by The Zoe Taylor Dance Academy (Blackburn), this looks set to be another colourful riot to get the whole family in the mood for Christmas. It looks like word has spread about the top quality of the productions on at the mart as some of the performances are already close to sell out. We cannot support the Mart Theatre enough or on past performance recommend the panto enough! We've bought our tickets and tucked them away safely...we suggest you get yours sooner rather than later and look forward to the adventure!

Tickets only £8 adults, £6 children and £24 family (4 tickets)

Show times:

Thursday 20th December at 7.30pm

Friday 21st December at 7.30pm

Saturday 22nd December at 2.30pm and 7.30pm

Sunday 23rd December at 1.30pm and 4.30pm

For more information please click HERE

Pantomime season is well underway and on behalf of MooBaaKids, Kathy Grillo took a trip down memory lane to the Alhambra panto in Bradford and liked what she saw.

MooBaaKids users can ring up for tickets to Robin Hood- The Pantomime Adventure NOW and simply quote MOOBAA OFFER to secure the following fantastic discount: Best seats (stalls & dress circle) £15, that's a saving of up to £9.50 on these dates / performances: Tues 10 Jan - 6.15pm; Tues 17 Jan - 6.15pm.
The offer is on a first come first served basis and therefore subject to availability and booking fees.


Robin Hood – The Pantomime Adventure at the Alhambra Theatre, review by Kathy Grillo.


Little and Large in 1981 with a guest appearance from Norman Collier (does anyone else remember his broken microphone act?) and a memorable rendition of the rather annoying ‘Shaddup You Face’. That was my last visit to an Alhambra pantomime.


So with slightly jaded memories of the concept I needed convincing, even though many have sung the praises of stalwart comedian Billy Pearce’s regular appearances in the annual show.


But I needn’t have worried – myself and my six-year-old daughter were completely blown away by the spectacle.


From the moment the lights go down the show grabs the audience by the lapels and takes it on a journey of magic, adventure, belly laughs and camp musical numbers.


Pearce, despite being at least 20 years older than many of the cast bounces through from beginning to end with the energy of a schoolboy and a rapport with the audience very few could achieve. From the moment he lands on stage, dangling from the ceiling, he is welcomed by many like an old friend.


Hilary O’Neil as the Sorceress, another panto regular, effortlessly lurches from impersonations including Stacey Solomon and Joe Pasquale to belting out big songs.


The villain of the piece, the Sheriff, played by Jay Worthy was brilliantly camped up and over-acted. And Andrew Ryan’s outrageous Nurse Nelly competes with Pearce for laughs with his/her increasingly eye-popping costume changes, such as a crazy striptease which became a washing line and turns as both Susan Boyle and Anne Robinson.


The laughs came thick and fast with topical jokes (“I’m taking her to a deep, dark place. No, not Skipton!”) and slapstick like Jamie Capewell’s vainpreening, Will Scarlett wooing Maid Marion (Emma Cannon) with a cheesy version of Bryan Adams’ ‘Everything I Do’ with Pearce trying to pull him off the wall he is sitting on.


The wonders of modern panto technology are also on display with a beautiful ‘waterfall’ which spells out words and a flying dragon.


We left the theatre as pantomime converts, chatting about it all the way home. But for younger children, an earlier performance is a must, as the show is nearly three hours long, with a 15-20 minute interval for frantic toilet trips.


Runs until 5 Feb – www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

Aladdin And His Magic Lamp at The Mart Theatre, Skipton - two dates only!

ALADDIN AND HIS MAGIC LAMP – two dates only!
The Mart Theatre, Skipton - 23rd and 24th December, 2011
11.00am & 2.30pm each day


We are so excited (Oh, yes we are!) about the two-date pop-up panto that’s heading to The Mart Theatre, Skipton. Aladdin And His Magic Lamp is set to get families across the area feeling really festive in the run up to Christmas.


Starring former Eastender Mark Homer (Tony Hills) as Abanazer and a cracking cast, the show promises to be a riot of comedy and wonderful foot-tapping songs and beautiful costumes all in the brilliant atmosphere of the auction mart.


George Critchley for PMA Productions brings the Middle Eastern folk tale to life in a magical way. The show retells the life of a young poor boy Aladdin (Alex Beaumont) who lives with his mum Widow Twankey (Neil Bromley), and brother Wishee Washee in a Chinese City (thought to be Peking) who is recruited to find a Magic Lamp by his mysterious Uncle Abanazer.


Everyone is invited to come and find out what happens when Aladdin is double-crossed and finds himself stuck in the booby-trapped cave of wonders.
Meet the Genie (Jack Lewis-Slatter) who lives in a Lamp, his sidekick The Slave of the Ring (Rebecca Charnley), Sophie Michaels as Princess Yasmin, in this new production for all the family.


Along with a full supporting troupe of dancers from Karen Heritage Dance Academy (Stockton-on-Tees) and all the traditional ingredients of a fun-filled, family pantomime, this is sure to be a festive treat for any age.


Tickets: £7.50 adult, £5.00 child, £20 family ticket (must include one adult) Book online at www.themarttheatre.org.uk
Or call the box office: 01756 706460

*Special Offer* for the Alhambra's Robin Hood Panto!

There’s nothing more Christmassy than a good old panto and Bradford’s Alhambra has offered MooBaaKids’ users an exclusive discount offer on selected dates for Robin Hood – The pantomime Adventure!
Billy Pearce (Robin Hood), comedienne Hilary O’Neil (The Sorceress) and Bradford-born Andrew Ryan (Nurse Nelly) lead the superb cast of West Yorkshire’s biggest pantomime which features amazing visual effects!

Join the legendary hero and his merry men in an un-missable pantomime adventure as they encounter a spectacular flying dragon, with a wing span of over five metres, and an enchanted waterfall, which can answer questions put to it by spelling out words!


MooBaaKids users can ring up for tickets NOW and simply quote MOOBAA OFFER to secure the following fantastic discount:
Best seats (stalls & dress circle) £15, that's a saving of up to £9.50 on these dates / performances:
Tues 20 Dec - 2.30pm; 
Wed 21 Dec - 2.30pm; 
Thurs 22 Dec - 2.30pm; 
Tues 10 Jan - 6.15pm; 
Tues 17 Jan - 6.15pm.
The offer is on a first come first served basis and therefore subject to availability and booking fees. 

For the 6.15pm performances, "Friar Tuck's" restaurant will be open for pre-show dining or there's the "grab a bag" option for a quicker snack on the run! All details are on the theatre’s web page, just scroll down a bit.


Since 1914, Alhambra Theatre pantomimes have been an essential part of the festive season in Bradford and alongside the superb visual effects, Robin Hood audiences are in for dazzling show complete with an abundance of comedy, lavish sets and fantastic costumes!


So don’t leave it any longer to book your tickets for this sheriff-busting, arrow-shooting, tights-wearing, hog-roasting pantomime spectacular…